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| Introduction | Cyprus |
| Background: | A former British colony, Cyprus received independence in 1960 following years of resistance to British rule. Tensions between the Greek Cypriot majority and Turkish Cypriot minority came to a head in December 1963, when violence broke out in the capital of Nicosia. Despite the deployment of UN peacekeepers in 1964, sporadic intercommunal violence continued forcing most Turkish Cypriots into enclaves throughout the island. In 1974, a Greek-sponsored attempt to seize the government was met by military intervention from Turkey, which soon controlled more than a third of the island. In 1983, the Turkish-held area declared itself the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus," but it is recognized only by Turkey. The latest two-year round of UN-brokered direct talks - between the leaders of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities to reach an agreement to reunite the divided island - ended when the Greek Cypriots rejected the UN unity plan in an April 2004 referendum. Although only the internationally recognized Greek Cypriot-controlled "Republic of Cyprus" joined the EU on 1 May 2004, every Cypriot carrying a Cyprus passport will have the status of a European citizen. However, Nicosia continues to oppose EU efforts to establish direct trade and economic links to northern Cyprus as a way of rewarding the Turkish Cypriot community for voting in favor of the UN unity plan. |
| People | Cyprus |
| Population: | 775,927 (July 2004 est.) |
| Age structure: | 0-14 years: 21.4% (male 84,850; female 81,235) 15-64 years: 67.4% (male 264,441; female 258,150) 65 years and over: 11.2% (male 38,058; female 49,193) (2004 est.) |
| Median age: | total: 34.4 years male: 33.4 years female: 35.5 years (2004 est.) |
| Population growth rate: | 0.55% (2004 est.) |
| Birth rate: | 12.66 births/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
| Death rate: | 7.63 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
| Net migration rate: | 0.43 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
| Sex ratio: | at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2004 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate: | total: 7.36 deaths/1,000 live births female: 5.44 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.) male: 9.19 deaths/1,000 live births |
| Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 77.46 years male: 75.11 years female: 79.92 years (2004 est.) |
| Total fertility rate: | 1.85 children born/woman (2004 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | 0.1% (2003 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | less than 1,000 (1999 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths: | NA |
| Nationality: | noun: Cypriot(s) adjective: Cypriot |
| Ethnic groups: | Greek 77%, Turkish 18%, other 5% (2001) |
| Religions: | Greek Orthodox 78%, Muslim 18%, Maronite, Armenian Apostolic, and other 4% |
| Languages: | Greek, Turkish, English |
| Literacy: | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97.6% male: 98.9% female: 96.3% (2003 est.) |
| Government | Cyprus |
| Country name: | conventional long form: Republic of Cyprus conventional short form: Cyprus note: the Turkish Cypriot area refers to itself as the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" (TRNC) |
| Government type: | republic note: a separation of the two ethnic communities inhabiting the island began following the outbreak of communal strife in 1963; this separation was further solidified after the Turkish intervention in July 1974 after a Greek junta-supported coup attempt gave the Turkish Cypriots de facto control in the north; Greek Cypriots control the only internationally recognized government; on 15 November 1983 Turkish Cypriot "President" Rauf DENKTASH declared independence and the formation of a "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" (TRNC), recognized only by Turkey; both sides publicly support a settlement based on a federation (Greek Cypriot position) or confederation (Turkish Cypriot position) |
| Capital: | Nicosia |
| Administrative divisions: | 6 districts; Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol, Nicosia, Paphos; note - Turkish Cypriot area's administrative divisions include Kyrenia, all but a small part of Famagusta, and small parts of Lefkosia (Nicosia) and Larnaca |
| Independence: | 16 August 1960 (from UK); note - Turkish Cypriot area proclaimed self-rule on 13 February 1975 and independence in 1983, but these proclamations are only recognized by Turkey |
| National holiday: | Independence Day, 1 October (1960); note - Turkish Cypriot area celebrates 15 November (1983) as Independence Day |
| Constitution: | 16 August 1960; from December 1963, the Turkish Cypriots no longer participated in the government; negotiations to create the basis for a new or revised constitution to govern the island and to better relations between Greek and Turkish Cypriots have been held intermittently since the mid-1960s; in 1975 following the 1974 Turkish intervention, Turkish Cypriots created their own constitution and governing bodies within the "Turkish Federated State of Cyprus," which became the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" when the Turkish Cypriots declared their independence in 1983; a new constitution for the Turkish Cypriot area passed by referendum on 5 May 1985 |
| Legal system: | based on common law, with civil law modifications |
| Suffrage: | 18 years of age; universal |
| Executive branch: | chief of state: President Tassos PAPADOPOULOS (since 1 March 2003); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government; post of vice president is currently vacant; under the 1960 constitution, the post is reserved for a Turkish Cypriot head of government: President Tassos PAPADOPOULOS (since 1 March 2003); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government; post of vice president is currently vacant; under the 1960 constitution, the post is reserved for a Turkish Cypriot cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed jointly by the president and vice president elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 16 February 2003 (next to be held NA February 2008) note: Rauf R. DENKTASH has been "president" of the Turkish Cypriot area since 13 February 1975 ("president" elected by popular vote for a five-year term); elections last held 15 April 2000 (next to be held NA April 2005); results - Rauf R. DENKTASH reelected president after the other contender withdrew; Mehmet Ali TALAT, who had been "prime minister" of the Turkish Cypriot area since mid-January 2004, resigned on 20 October 2004; Dervis EROGLU, who was the new "prime minister elect," was unable to form a new government and the mandate was returned to Rauf DENKTASH; there is a Council of Ministers (cabinet) in the Turkish Cypriot area, appointed by the "prime minister" election results: Tassos PAPADOPOULOS elected president; percent of vote - Tassos PAPADOPOULOS 51.5%, Glafkos KLIRIDIS 38.8%, Alekos MARKIDIS 6.6% |
| Legislative branch: | unicameral - Greek Cypriot area: House of Representatives or Vouli Antiprosopon (80 seats; 56 assigned to the Greek Cypriots, 24 to Turkish Cypriots; note - only those assigned to Greek Cypriots are filled; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms); Turkish Cypriot area: Assembly of the Republic or Cumhuriyet Meclisi (50 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) election results: Greek Cypriot area: House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - AKEL 34.71%, DISY 34%, DIKO 14.84%, KISOS 6.51%, others 9.94%; seats by party - AKEL (Communist) 20, DISY 19, DIKO 9, KISOS 4, others 4; Turkish Cypriot area: Assembly of the Republic - percent of vote by party - CTP 35.8%, UBP 32.3%, Peace and Democratic Movement 13.4%, DP 12.3%; seats by party - CTP 19, UBP 18, Peace and Democratic Movement 6, DP 7 elections: Greek Cypriot area: last held 27 May 2001 (next to be held NA May 2006); Turkish Cypriot area: last held 14 December 2003 (next to be held early 2005 because the government resigned) |
| Judicial branch: | Supreme Court (judges are appointed jointly by the president and vice president) note: there is also a Supreme Court in the Turkish Cypriot area |
| Political parties and leaders: | Greek Cypriot area: Democratic Party or DIKO [Tassos PAPADOPOULOS]; Democratic Rally or DISY [Nikos ANASTASIADHIS]; Fighting Democratic Movement or ADIK [Dinos MIKHAILIDIS]; Green Party of Cyprus [George PERDIKIS]; New Horizons [Nikolaus KOUTSOU]; Restorative Party of the Working People or AKEL (Communist Party) [Dimitrios CHRISTOFIAS]; Social Democrats Movement or KISOS (formerly United Democratic Union of Cyprus or EDEK) [Yiannakis OMIROU]; United Democrats Movement or EDE [George VASSILIOU]; Turkish Cypriot area: Democratic Party or DP [Serder DENKTASH]; National Birth Party or UDP [Enver EMIN]; National Unity Party or UBP [Dervis EROGLU]; Our Party or BP [Okyay SADIKOGLU]; Patriotic Unity Movement or YBH [Alpay DURDURAN]; Peace and Democratic Movement [Mustafa AKINCI]; Republican Turkish Party or CTP [Mehmet ALI TALAT] |
| Political pressure groups and leaders: | Confederation of Cypriot Workers or SEK (pro-West); Confederation of Revolutionary Labor Unions or Dev-Is; Federation of Turkish Cypriot Labor Unions or Turk-Sen; Pan-Cyprian Labor Federation or PEO (Communist controlled) |
| International organization participation: | Australia Group, C, CE, EBRD, EU (new member), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM, NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO |
| Diplomatic representation in the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Euripides L. EVRIVIADES chancery: 2211 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 FAX: [1] (202) 483-6710 note: representative of the Turkish Cypriot area in the US is Ahmet ERDENGIZ; office at 1667 K Street NW, Washington, DC; telephone [1] (202) 887-6198 consulate(s): New York consulate(s) general: New York telephone: [1] (202) 462-5772 |
| Diplomatic representation from the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Michael KLOSSON embassy: corner of Metochiou and Ploutarchou Streets, Engomi, 2407 Nicosia mailing address: P. O. Box 24536, 1385 Nikosia telephone: [357] (22) 393939 FAX: [357] (22) 780944 |
| Flag description: | white with a copper-colored silhouette of the island (the name Cyprus is derived from the Greek word for copper) above two green crossed olive branches in the center of the flag; the branches symbolize the hope for peace and reconciliation between the Greek and Turkish communities note: the Turkish Cypriot flag has a horizontal red stripe at the top and bottom between which is a red crescent and red star on a white field |
| Communications | Cyprus |
| Telephones - main lines in use: | Greek Cypriot area: 427,400 (2002); Turkish Cypriot area: 86,228 (2002) |
| Telephones - mobile cellular: | Greek Cypriot area: 417,900 (2002); Turkish Cypriot area: 143,178 (2002) |
| Telephone system: | general assessment: excellent in both the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot areas domestic: open-wire, fiber-optic cable, and microwave radio relay international: country code - 357; tropospheric scatter; 3 coaxial and 5 fiber-optic submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean), 2 Eutelsat, 2 Intersputnik, and 1 Arabsat |
| Radio broadcast stations: | Greek Cypriot area: AM 7, FM 60, shortwave 1 (1998); Turkish Cypriot area: AM 3, FM 11, shortwave 1 (1998) |
| Radios: | Greek Cypriot area: 310,000 (1997); Turkish Cypriot area: 56,450 (1994) |
| Television broadcast stations: | Greek Cypriot area: 4 (plus 225 low-power repeaters) (September 1995);; Turkish Cypriot area: 4 (plus 5 repeaters) (September 1995) |
| Televisions: | Greek Cypriot area: 248,000 (1997); Turkish Cypriot area: 52,300 (1994) |
| Internet country code: | .cy |
| Internet hosts: | 5,901 (2004) |
| Internet Service Providers (ISPs): | 6 (2000) |
| Internet users: | 210,000 (2002) |
| Transportation | Cyprus |
| Highways: | total: 13,491 km note: Greek Cypriot area: 11,141 km; Turkish Cypriot area: 2,350 km unpaved: Greek Cypriot area: 4,713 km; Turkish Cypriot area: 980 km (2000/1996) paved: Greek Cypriot area: 6,428 km; Turkish Cypriot area: 1,370 km |
| Ports and harbors: | Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol, Paphos, Vasilikos |
| Merchant marine: | total: 1,066 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 22,016,374 GRT/35,760,004 DWT registered in other countries: 100 (2003 est.) foreign-owned: Austria 11, Belgium 1, Bulgaria 1, Canada 6, China 13, Croatia 2, Cuba 8, Egypt 2, Estonia 2, Germany 210, Greece 499, Guam 1, Hong Kong 5, India 6, Iran 3, Ireland 1, Israel 3, Italy 2, Japan 20, South Korea 6, Latvia 11, Malta 1, Mexico 1, Monaco 3, Netherlands 18, Norway 7, Panama 1, Philippines 2, Poland 20, Portugal 2, Russia 51, Singapore 2, Slovenia 4, Spain 5, Sudan 2, Sweden 6, Switzerland 1, Ukraine 2, United Kingdom 16, United States 4, Vietnam 1 by type: bulk 403, cargo 276, chemical tanker 28, combination bulk 21, combination ore/oil 2, container 145, liquefied gas 1, multi-functional large load carrier 2, passenger 8, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 109, refrigerated cargo 30, roll on/roll off 29, short-sea/passenger 5, specialized tanker 3, vehicle carrier 3 |
| Airports: | 17 (2003 est.) |
| Airports - with paved runways: | total: 13 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.) 914 to 1,523 m: 3 |
| Airports - with unpaved runways: | total: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.) |
| Heliports: | 10 (2003 est.) |
| Military | Cyprus |
| Military branches: | Greek Cypriot area: Greek Cypriot National Guard (GCNG; including air and naval elements), Greek Cypriot Police Turkish Cypriot area: Turkish Cypriot Security Force (GKK) |
| Military manpower - military age and obligation: | 18 years of age (2004 est.) |
| Military manpower - availability: | males age 15-49: 202,966 (2004 est.) |
| Military manpower - fit for military service: | males age 15-49: 139,255 (2004 est.) |
| Military manpower - reaching military age annually: | males: 6,614 (2004 est.) |
| Military expenditures - dollar figure: | $384 million (FY02) |
| Military expenditures - percent of GDP: | 3.8% (FY02) |
| Transnational Issues | Cyprus |
| Disputes - international: | hostilities in 1974 divided the island into two de facto autonomous areas, a Greek Cypriot area controlled by the internationally recognized Cypriot Government and a Turkish-Cypriot area, separated by a UN buffer zone; March 2003 reunification talks failed, but Turkish-Cypriots later opened their borders to temporary visits by Greek Cypriots; a UN-brokered peace plan attempts to break the stalemate over final status before the Greek Cypriot area enters the EU in May 2004 |
| Refugees and internally displaced persons: | IDPs: 265,000 (both Turkish and Greek Cypriots; many displaced for over 30 years) (2004) |
| Illicit drugs: | minor transit point for heroin and hashish via air routes and container traffic to Europe, especially from Lebanon and Turkey; some cocaine transits as well; despite a strengthening of anti-money laundering legislation, remains highly vulnerable to money laundering; identification of benefiting owners and reporting of suspicious transactions by nonresident-controlled companies in offshore sector remains weak |
| This page was last updated on 16 December, 2004 |
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